Part 41 (1/2)

”Why, gerund, sir,” said P. Lentz instantly.

”What, again?” said The Roman, who then called upon Stover.

d.i.n.k arose, watched with some trepidation by the rest; for being in the front row he could receive no signal.

”First paragraph, third word, gerund or gerundive, Stover?”

d.i.n.k took a long time, s.h.i.+fting a little as though trying to glance from side to side, and finally named haltingly:

”Gerund, sir.”

”Next line, first word, gerund or gerundive? Look in front of you, Stover. Look at me.”

d.i.n.k purposely called it wrong, likewise the next; thereby completing the mystification of The Roman, who now concentrated his attention on Macnooder and the Tennessee Shad, as being next in order of suspicion.

The day ended victoriously.

”He won't live out the week,” announced d.i.n.k. ”There are circles under his eyes already.”

”Better quit for a day or two,” said the Tennessee Shad.

”Never!”

Now the advantage of d.i.n.k's method of signaling was in its absolute naturalness. For the growing boy wiggles his ears as a pup tries his teeth or a young goat hardens his horns. Moreover, as d.i.n.k held to his plan of judicious flunking, The Roman's suspicions were completely diverted. For three days more the lover of the gerund and the gerundive sought to localize and detect the sources of information without avail.

Finally on the sixth day The Roman arrived with a briskness that was at once noted and a.n.a.lyzed. P. Lentz was called and translated.

”We will now take up our daily recreation,” said The Roman, in a gentle voice. ”It has been a matter of pleasure to me--not unmixed with a little surprise, incredulous surprise--to note the sudden affection of certain members of this cla.s.s for those elusive forms of Latin grammar known as the gerund and the gerundive. I had despaired, in my unbelief I had despaired, of ever satisfactorily impressing their subtle distinctions on certain, shall we say athletic, imaginations. It seems I was wrong. I had not enough faith. I am sorry. It is evident that these Scylla and Charybdis of prosody have no longer any terrors for you, Lentz. Am I right?”

”Yes, sir,” said P. Lentz hesitatingly.

”So--so--no terrors? And now, Lentz, take up your book, take it up.

Direct your unfailing glance at the first paragraph, page sixty-two.

Is it there?”

”Yes, sir.”

”Pick out the first gerund you see.”

P. Lentz, beyond the aid of human help, gazed into the jungle and brought forth a supine.

”Is it possible, Lentz?” said The Roman. ”Is it possible? Try once more, but don't guess. Don't guess, Lentz; don't do it.”

P. Lentz closed the book and sat down.

”What! A sudden indisposition? Too bad, Lentz, too bad. Now we'll try Lazelle. Lazelle won't fail. Lazelle has not failed for a week.”

The Gutter Pup rose in a panic, guessed and fell horribly over an ordinary participle.